Frenkie de Jong has stated that he wishes to stay put at Barcelona amid strong links with a summer move to Manchester United.
Speaking to ESPN (h/t GOAL), Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has reiterated that he wishes to stay put at Camp Nou amidst serious transfer interest from Premier League giants Manchester United.
The 25-year-old has been with Barcelona since 2019, when he arrived from AFC Ajax in a deal worth €86 million. De Jong has firmly established himself as a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Catalan giants and remains a pivotal part of the team despite there being some missteps along the way in the last season.
However, Barcelona’s poor financial situation has given way to speculations over de Jong’s future, with the Blaugrana needing to complete a few big sales before June 30 to balance their books. De Jong is seen as one of the most sellable assets at the club, and the Catalan giants are open to offloading him should a significant offer arrive.
And Manchester United have emerged as a suitor for the Netherlands international. The Red Devils have named former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag as their new manager, and the Dutchman is seeking a reunion with his former protege.
Frenkie de Jong tells ESPN: “I prefer to stay at Barça. I said this before, Barcelona is the club of my dreams”. ??? #FCB
“Contact with other clubs? I don't want to talk about rumors anymore. I feel good at Barcelona. There is no agreement and nothing official”.@TheEuropeanLad pic.twitter.com/A2LcM9iRk3
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 31, 2022
There have been rumours of Barcelona and Manchester United already agreeing on a transfer fee for de Jong. On top of that, Reports have claimed that ten Hag has been trying to convince de Jong to make the switch, but it seems like the United boss has not succeeded in his endeavours.
Addressing his future, de Jong said: “Barcelona is just my dream club. Also from a young age. I just said it too. I’ve never regretted my choice despite the fact that I had hoped for more in terms of prizes than I’ve achieved so far. But I have never regretted my choice.”
“What I’m saying, there is absolutely nothing of an agreement or anything official. At the moment there is no question of it at all. Not that I know of in any case. Or they must not have told me, but I don’t think so,” the Netherlands international added.
So, it seems like, despite widespread rumours, de Jong is set to snub Manchester United in the summer and stay put at Barcelona for the foreseeable future.
